Energy Summary Essay Example for Free

Energy compend EssayUniversity of PhoenixThis summary of Energy depart re visible horizon three slicknesss, The safe National Wildlife Refuge, Yucca Mountain, and The leash Gorges Dam. It will attain each type of energy source, its relative abundance and environmental impact along with evaluating the frugal and ethical issues of each energy source highlighted by these three cases. The summary will identify the interests of prominent stakeholders, and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each energy source according to each stakeholders point of view and present possible strategies for solving the limited-resource issues raised in these case studies with explaining the role of conservation in these strategies. The diametric National Wildlife RefugeSince 1980 there has been an on and off debate regarding opening the psychiatric hospital to oil drill. The refuge is close to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, one of the worlds largest pipeline systems that begins at Prudhoe Bay and continues south to Valdez. Prudhoe Bay has produced 14 billion barrels of crude oil. In the early 1990s, it was the first time in history that the joined States would import more than half the oil it used. The interest of opening the refuge to oil drilling started once again after it subsided for five years following the Alaskan oil spill. The Department of the Interior admitted that the oil drilling will harm the areas ecosystem and therefore both the Senate and House of Representatives agreed to allow it.The economic and ethical issues pertaining to developing this rank to oil drilling much(prenominal) as domestic oil could religious service the balance of trade and the get together States would be less dependent on oil from foreign countries (Raven, Berg, Hassenzahl, 2010). Conservationists consider drilling will disrupt the balance of nature for the Alaskan wilderness. Studies that were conducted by the linked States Fish and Wildlife work that support habitat d amage, and decline in wolves and bears in the Prudhoe Bay area.Yucca MountainThe Yucca Mountain in Nevada was chosen by Congress in 1987 as the only area to be considered as a perm underground storage site for high levels of nuclear wasted from power plants. The business deal site is 90 miles Northwest of Las Vegas. Yucca Mountain can hold more than 42,000 tons of spent fuel produced in the United States and future production of spent fuel until the year 2025 (Raven, Berg, Hassenzahl, 2010). Once it reaches to full capacity, an other storage site will be needed. A possible environmental impact to storing spent fuel in the smoke is the mountain is near a volcano and active earthquake fault lines. Although there hasnt been an hit in 20,000 years, the chance of an eruption is one in 10,000 during the next 10,000 years.In 1992, 12 miles from Yucca Mountain a magnitude 5.6 earthquake developed. Scientist examined the effects of this earthquake and found the water table to start ch anged to 1-meter caused by the earthquake. near experts believe this is not a serious concern. The United States Department of Energy has conducted many studies on the mountain that cost billions of dollars. Their results reflected that the site is safe from these two possible mother-nature disasters. Nevadans disagree and do not want their pronounce as a radioactive waste site. Congress in 2002 approved Yucca Mountain as the United States nuclear waste site with no regard to the Nevadans concerns. Still today it is unclear when the site will be licensed and opened (Raven, Berg, Hassenzahl, 2010).The Three Gorges DamThe Three Gorges Dam (TDG), located in China, is a hydroelectric dam. The dam is the worlds largest hydropower project and has created massive floods, deaths, and displaced many spate living in the river basin. The dam was designed to produce 18 gig watts of electrical power (Raven, Berg, Hassenzahl, 2010). China is known to have air quality issues, and they are rel iant on imported energy. This dam is an advantage for China. It will lease ships to travel far upstream and provide recreation as well as create a living for commercial fisherman. As with advantages, there also comes disadvantages such as displacement of 1.5 million people who received very little or none at all government assisted documentation to help these people find new places to live. The dam also puts the Yangze river dolphin along with several other species at risk for extinction.Possible strategies in solving these limited resource issues raised in these cases would be to invest in renewable energy sources and energy conservation for The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Yucca Mountain case would need to determine if storing the spent fuel in the mountain would be better for the environment than possibly in deep underground sites. As for the Three Gorges Dam indirect solar energy such as wave energy may be an option in the future.Each case, The National Arctic Wildlif e Refuge, The Yucca Mountain, and The Three Gorges Dam have different types of energy sources, oil, nuclear, and hydropower. They have the same issue when it comes down to the environment, humanity, wildlife, and the economy. disposal agencies want to generate revenue such as domestic oil drilling in Alaska and rapture up the reservoir in China, all at the expense of all living and non-living beings. It seems to be a never-ending debate as solutions to these issues are still not solved today.ReferencesRaven, P. H., Berg, L. R., Hassenzahl, D. M. (2010). Environment (7th ed.). Hoboken, NJ conjuration Wiley Sons.